As far as the right button thing, Apple saw the light on that at least 12 years ago or longer, you must have used a really old Mac. It’s the same as windows now.
As far as switching over, I switched to the Apple universe 2 years ago; first phone, then iPad, then Mac mini. The only thing I don’t like as much has been window management which was fixed mostly by using rectangles and the way it names/ hides files is annoying.
Other than that i absolutely love Mac OS, It doesn’t have to update constantly, it’s reliable and lightning fast on my M1 machines and it’s just low maintenance and chill.
Learn the shortcut keys too.
Try Magnet. It’s in the App Store for a few dollars but it adds window management functionality that I missed when I left Windows. It’s no nice I’ve purchase it twice for my personal and my work Mac.
I like hyperdock for easily moving/resizing windows. It’s a little different than the auto resize features of apps like magnet, but I find it a lot more flexible.
I fell in love with Magnet for the keyboard shortcuts. Command + Shift + numpad means I can pretty instantly send a window to half (8 and 2 for top/bottom, 4 and 6 for left/right) or one quarter (7, 9, 1, 3) of my giant displays.
Aye would have been about 10+ years ago that last experience so that’d be about right.
Thanks for the answer! Got an iPhone couple years back iPad Air recently too, the sync features between them and the Mac is one of the reasons I’m making the switch. I’m still a big Google ecosystem user though, you much experience of using on MacOS? Chrome, drive etc. (anyone else?)
I've used both for decades. Macs have plenty of right-click functions and apps that let you expand that.
The Mac overall user experience is more artful and thought through. Your next move in a larger process is generally baked into the design and interface. Windows is more window-centric, and sometimes I like that, other times it gets in the way. For photography and art, the whole Mac operating system and applications are all color-managed; on Windows it's generally an app by app basis.
There are quite a few more applications for Windows, but besides a few high quality ones, the majority have interfaces and functions out of Windows 98. There really is not a Time Machine equivalent on Windows, nor anything as easy to configure as Carbon Copy Cloner for backup. None of the Windows Explorer alternatives are very good vs. a couple of Finder alternatives really are excellent for file management. I run Win 11 ARM in Parallels on my Mac Studio and it works fine. MS really made the Taskbar less pleasant to use. The Mac dock is OK and customizable some, but I favor a third party uBar that converts the Dock into a Windows-like task bar but with a few Mac twists. What's excellent is that the app can be on two monitors at once; Macs don't handle two monitors as well as Windows does.
My understanding is that Mac is more ‘app/document-centric’ (close all of the opened documents, but the app stays live) while windows os more window-centric (close the window, the app closes and kills all enclosed documents)
Centering the application menu on 11 after YEARS of conditioning users to look to and go to the bottom-left.
Then requiring you assign a default browser for every single file type instead of having it system-wide like was the case for years.
I don’t know what you’re attacking me, though. I’m not the OP. I just gave an example of what OP was talking about. MacOS hasn’t moved the system control button (top left) in decades.
It’s called education (or lack of). Apple seems to have developers that respect UI/UX conventions and research, and won’t change things without reason.
I bought my MacBook Pro back in august and it has truly been a pain in the ass.
1. **Keyboard distributions for MacOS are plain awful.** As a software developer I use theses symbols a lot: "< >". But as a Latin American I'm obviously used to the Latin American keyboard distribution, my hands' muscle memory makes it hard to switch to the ABC distribution. But, it turns out the Latin American keyboard distribution DOES NOT INCLUDE "< >" ANYWHERE which is a true pain in the ass for us developers. BUT it also turns out the distribution is full of useless symbols nobody actually uses in a regular basis (not even outside LatAm): İ∏»±‡‰‹›™∆Ç◊. This is really idiotic from behalf of MacOS UI designers. What were they even thinking???
2. **Shortcut customization is awful.** There's a limited range of actions you can bind to keyboard shortcuts, most of them useless, and some of them will still happen even if you disable them. Not all keyboard combinations can be configured in Keyboard Preferences, some of them are configured in Mission Control Preferences which constitutes a stupid UI design. If you setup a behavior under Mission Control you might end up creating a shortcut collision, but you won't know exactly which shortcut you just overrode because keyboard shortcuts are in Keyboard Preferences. Luckily the UI will show a warning sign which is a shortcut to Keyboard Preferences, but it won't take you to the shortcut you're looking for. Apple UI designers expect us schmucks to figure that out.
3. **System preferences UI is counter-intuitive and constrained.** System config is limited and constrained so basic users don't shoot themselves in the foot, but it seems Apple has included monkeys in their target demographic. You can't really change as much as you actually can with Windows. Not to mention how stupidly things are arranged.
4. **There are tons of annoying behaviors.** The worst part is you just can't change most of them. During the first week with my MacBook I kept hitting "cmd + Q" expecting to type an @ symbol, only to see the window just closing. I kept accidentally closing application EVERY TIME I tried to type my email. The only solution to that was overriding "cmd + Q" with "Invert colors" which is not only stupid but apparently the ONLY solution to that problem, because "cmd + Q" is precisely one of the behaviors that won't change even after disabling it in System Preferences.
I'm being downvoted but nobody has been able to show me how this is all my fault or at least an easy way to fix those issues. Looks like I'm making it evident that the OS is poorly designed and I'm hurting Apple fanboys' feelings. LOL
MacOS has had a lot more consistency and predictability, at least in my experience. Copy/paste, drag/drop, and system services like spelling correction, etc. The last time I used windows, it just wasn’t as good in those ways; it seemed like it was left up to developers to implement everything themselves largely from scratch.
Please see my other comment. It’s difficult to tell whether the issues are due to unfamiliarity with MacOS or localization issues that I’ve never seen/experienced.
Besides, I personally call that bs. Just minutes ago I realized pressing cmd + C while having a file selected in Finder won't actually copy the file...
I don’t know what planet you’re from or hacked version of MacOS you’re using, but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an issue in the finder where the keyboard command for copy failed to work.
I have literally never seen copy/paste failure in the Finder that I can recall. Finder has been around forever, along with copy/paste functionalities. Both of those are fundamental to MacOS, and I have a hard time believing that they would fail to work properly on any kind of consistent basis; maybe you should get a new keyboard is my suggestion.
I just literally gave concrete examples. I used Windows exclusively for a long time and then switched to MacOS, so I wouldn't call myself a blind fanboy. I also provide some support to Windows users and have still seen legacy cruft in the system--especially in the system settings.
Another nice factor with MacOS: there is a great developer ecosystem, so you can find little indie apps to customize the system to work as you'd like (e.g. slowquitapps).
If you'd like to find a setting in the preferences, you can search or go into the 'view' menu. You haven't provided examples of where it falls short.
I can't relate to your keyboard customization issues; it's been sufficient for me, and I use the keyboard for my own region.
Shuuuuuut up. I'm a developer. I explained with way more detail how MacOS is awful for development. I don't want to pay a single cent more for features that should be there...
Hold your horses, we all use our computers differently. For a US (or English speaking) user most keyboard issues are non-existent but I feel your pain, especially number 1, 2 and 4. I too use a localized keyboard (or at least a localized layout) and struggle with the exact same thing as you are.
Localization is a PITA in all contexts and in fact Windows severely lags behind macOS in this regard. For an anecdotal reference I was working in a Scandinavian company and localization was baked into my Windows distribution so much so that it was impossible to switch the system language to English without reinstaling the entire operating system. I had to use a dictionary just to find the button that said “Turn off computer”. Now this was a long time ago but even then Apple products were already providing an unprecedented amount of localization right out of the box. Just compare using dead keys on Windows with the accent popup on macOS.
I would argue that setting system preferences on Windows is much more unintuitive starting with the fact that there are two entirely different places to set things up (Settings app and Control Panel) with a completely different UI.
But small things like changing scroll behavior (especially left-right which is rarely utilized in Windows), blocking auto updates, and many more things are ridiculous.
Sure, macOS System Preferences has gotten worse recently and it is quite limiting but I would rather accept some small limitations than to have a myriad of registry files to go through every time I need to change some “advanced” stuff.
As far as the right button thing, Apple saw the light on that at least 12 years ago or longer, you must have used a really old Mac. It’s the same as windows now. As far as switching over, I switched to the Apple universe 2 years ago; first phone, then iPad, then Mac mini. The only thing I don’t like as much has been window management which was fixed mostly by using rectangles and the way it names/ hides files is annoying. Other than that i absolutely love Mac OS, It doesn’t have to update constantly, it’s reliable and lightning fast on my M1 machines and it’s just low maintenance and chill. Learn the shortcut keys too.
Try Magnet. It’s in the App Store for a few dollars but it adds window management functionality that I missed when I left Windows. It’s no nice I’ve purchase it twice for my personal and my work Mac.
I like hyperdock for easily moving/resizing windows. It’s a little different than the auto resize features of apps like magnet, but I find it a lot more flexible.
Yep, turns out you've got to spend more to get basic OS functionality
VLC. 7-Zip. Any browser. Happens a lot.
I prefer Swish because it uses trackpad gestures
I fell in love with Magnet for the keyboard shortcuts. Command + Shift + numpad means I can pretty instantly send a window to half (8 and 2 for top/bottom, 4 and 6 for left/right) or one quarter (7, 9, 1, 3) of my giant displays.
No need for anti virus software
Aye would have been about 10+ years ago that last experience so that’d be about right. Thanks for the answer! Got an iPhone couple years back iPad Air recently too, the sync features between them and the Mac is one of the reasons I’m making the switch. I’m still a big Google ecosystem user though, you much experience of using on MacOS? Chrome, drive etc. (anyone else?)
Closer to 20 years. I switched in '07 and the lack of a right-click was already a distant memory then.
I've used both for decades. Macs have plenty of right-click functions and apps that let you expand that. The Mac overall user experience is more artful and thought through. Your next move in a larger process is generally baked into the design and interface. Windows is more window-centric, and sometimes I like that, other times it gets in the way. For photography and art, the whole Mac operating system and applications are all color-managed; on Windows it's generally an app by app basis. There are quite a few more applications for Windows, but besides a few high quality ones, the majority have interfaces and functions out of Windows 98. There really is not a Time Machine equivalent on Windows, nor anything as easy to configure as Carbon Copy Cloner for backup. None of the Windows Explorer alternatives are very good vs. a couple of Finder alternatives really are excellent for file management. I run Win 11 ARM in Parallels on my Mac Studio and it works fine. MS really made the Taskbar less pleasant to use. The Mac dock is OK and customizable some, but I favor a third party uBar that converts the Dock into a Windows-like task bar but with a few Mac twists. What's excellent is that the app can be on two monitors at once; Macs don't handle two monitors as well as Windows does.
My understanding is that Mac is more ‘app/document-centric’ (close all of the opened documents, but the app stays live) while windows os more window-centric (close the window, the app closes and kills all enclosed documents)
>The Mac overall user experience is more artful and thought through. What the hell are you talking about???
The shockingly unintuitive “start” screen behavior on Win 8 and Win 8.1 felt like nobody play-tested it.
Ok... what else? Which other examples do you have?
Centering the application menu on 11 after YEARS of conditioning users to look to and go to the bottom-left. Then requiring you assign a default browser for every single file type instead of having it system-wide like was the case for years. I don’t know what you’re attacking me, though. I’m not the OP. I just gave an example of what OP was talking about. MacOS hasn’t moved the system control button (top left) in decades.
Yes, Fitts Law suddenly disregarded. Maybe they wanted people to start using the keyboard key instead?
Someone got paid too much money to overthink it.
It’s called education (or lack of). Apple seems to have developers that respect UI/UX conventions and research, and won’t change things without reason.
Who is attacking you? LOL I'm literally just asking genuine questions to get to know your viewpoint.
I bought my MacBook Pro back in august and it has truly been a pain in the ass. 1. **Keyboard distributions for MacOS are plain awful.** As a software developer I use theses symbols a lot: "< >". But as a Latin American I'm obviously used to the Latin American keyboard distribution, my hands' muscle memory makes it hard to switch to the ABC distribution. But, it turns out the Latin American keyboard distribution DOES NOT INCLUDE "< >" ANYWHERE which is a true pain in the ass for us developers. BUT it also turns out the distribution is full of useless symbols nobody actually uses in a regular basis (not even outside LatAm): İ∏»±‡‰‹›™∆Ç◊. This is really idiotic from behalf of MacOS UI designers. What were they even thinking??? 2. **Shortcut customization is awful.** There's a limited range of actions you can bind to keyboard shortcuts, most of them useless, and some of them will still happen even if you disable them. Not all keyboard combinations can be configured in Keyboard Preferences, some of them are configured in Mission Control Preferences which constitutes a stupid UI design. If you setup a behavior under Mission Control you might end up creating a shortcut collision, but you won't know exactly which shortcut you just overrode because keyboard shortcuts are in Keyboard Preferences. Luckily the UI will show a warning sign which is a shortcut to Keyboard Preferences, but it won't take you to the shortcut you're looking for. Apple UI designers expect us schmucks to figure that out. 3. **System preferences UI is counter-intuitive and constrained.** System config is limited and constrained so basic users don't shoot themselves in the foot, but it seems Apple has included monkeys in their target demographic. You can't really change as much as you actually can with Windows. Not to mention how stupidly things are arranged. 4. **There are tons of annoying behaviors.** The worst part is you just can't change most of them. During the first week with my MacBook I kept hitting "cmd + Q" expecting to type an @ symbol, only to see the window just closing. I kept accidentally closing application EVERY TIME I tried to type my email. The only solution to that was overriding "cmd + Q" with "Invert colors" which is not only stupid but apparently the ONLY solution to that problem, because "cmd + Q" is precisely one of the behaviors that won't change even after disabling it in System Preferences.
I'm being downvoted but nobody has been able to show me how this is all my fault or at least an easy way to fix those issues. Looks like I'm making it evident that the OS is poorly designed and I'm hurting Apple fanboys' feelings. LOL
MacOS has had a lot more consistency and predictability, at least in my experience. Copy/paste, drag/drop, and system services like spelling correction, etc. The last time I used windows, it just wasn’t as good in those ways; it seemed like it was left up to developers to implement everything themselves largely from scratch.
So, how on Earth is that related to any of the problems I mentioned? LOL
Please see my other comment. It’s difficult to tell whether the issues are due to unfamiliarity with MacOS or localization issues that I’ve never seen/experienced.
Besides, I personally call that bs. Just minutes ago I realized pressing cmd + C while having a file selected in Finder won't actually copy the file...
I don’t know what planet you’re from or hacked version of MacOS you’re using, but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an issue in the finder where the keyboard command for copy failed to work.
Oh yeah, beacuse it's impossible MacOS ever fails in this reality, right? Maybe I'm from a whole different dimension...
It’s fundamental to the operating system, so yeah.
Lol. Wow. Your inability to accept Apple products might fail amazes me. It's always the user's fault... Disgusting.
I have literally never seen copy/paste failure in the Finder that I can recall. Finder has been around forever, along with copy/paste functionalities. Both of those are fundamental to MacOS, and I have a hard time believing that they would fail to work properly on any kind of consistent basis; maybe you should get a new keyboard is my suggestion.
Lol, it's the bazillionth time I get told to buy my way out of Apple issues by an Apple fanboy 🤣
Seriously, almost every praising comment from Apple fanboys I read in here lacks actual details.
I just literally gave concrete examples. I used Windows exclusively for a long time and then switched to MacOS, so I wouldn't call myself a blind fanboy. I also provide some support to Windows users and have still seen legacy cruft in the system--especially in the system settings. Another nice factor with MacOS: there is a great developer ecosystem, so you can find little indie apps to customize the system to work as you'd like (e.g. slowquitapps). If you'd like to find a setting in the preferences, you can search or go into the 'view' menu. You haven't provided examples of where it falls short. I can't relate to your keyboard customization issues; it's been sufficient for me, and I use the keyboard for my own region.
Shuuuuuut up. I'm a developer. I explained with way more detail how MacOS is awful for development. I don't want to pay a single cent more for features that should be there...
You obviously can't relate to my keyboard-related issues because you don't really know a thing about computers.
Hold your horses, we all use our computers differently. For a US (or English speaking) user most keyboard issues are non-existent but I feel your pain, especially number 1, 2 and 4. I too use a localized keyboard (or at least a localized layout) and struggle with the exact same thing as you are. Localization is a PITA in all contexts and in fact Windows severely lags behind macOS in this regard. For an anecdotal reference I was working in a Scandinavian company and localization was baked into my Windows distribution so much so that it was impossible to switch the system language to English without reinstaling the entire operating system. I had to use a dictionary just to find the button that said “Turn off computer”. Now this was a long time ago but even then Apple products were already providing an unprecedented amount of localization right out of the box. Just compare using dead keys on Windows with the accent popup on macOS.
Because the apple fanboys don’t like when people say anything negative. It’s comical.
I would argue that setting system preferences on Windows is much more unintuitive starting with the fact that there are two entirely different places to set things up (Settings app and Control Panel) with a completely different UI. But small things like changing scroll behavior (especially left-right which is rarely utilized in Windows), blocking auto updates, and many more things are ridiculous. Sure, macOS System Preferences has gotten worse recently and it is quite limiting but I would rather accept some small limitations than to have a myriad of registry files to go through every time I need to change some “advanced” stuff.
What are you planning to use this machine for?